The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-06-24
A BROOKLYN HOLIDAY,
Sunday in Prospect Park and the Sub
urbs.
Especial Correspondence

Sunday in Prospect Park and the Sub
urbs.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, June Is.
Never did a lovelier day dawn on the
metropolis than last Sunday. It was just
cool enough, the sky was dazzlingly clear and
there was air enough in motion, The recent
rains had washed the face of nature to purity,
the air was full of ozone, and every one of
the 2,300, 900 people in New York and Brook
lyn felt the impulse to get out doors and go
somewhere And nearly all who were able
did go-50,000 or more to the Long Island
suburbs and islands down the bay, as many
or more to New Jersey, an even larger num-
Der to Central park and Harlem, while all the
loose footed clerks and laborers of Brooklyn
turned to the eastern suburbs, especially to
Prospect park.
Though much smaller than New York's
Central park, the Brooklyn retreat is quite as
beautiful, and in few hours there I wit
messed the most pleasing of all scenes to an
American-200 900 of the SO called common
people enjoying themselves with all the free
dom heart could wish, and yet without dis
order, hilarity without drunkenness, play
without rudeness, and perfect order without
of our progress in self government the scene
was truly sublime. In perhaps dozen places
stood policemen to direct the visitor that
certain plots of grass or shrubbery were re-
served, but only to direct. There were no
tresspassers, no drunken men, no fights, no
arrests. The sovereign people were there to
enjoy their own, and not to mar Or deface it,
And in conversation with these guardians [
learned that public opinion and popular taste
have so advanced In recent years that guar
dianship is scarcely needed Objects of art
are never defaced now; there is no breakage
and decorum is maintained in the walks and
green retreats 1t is the great resort Of the
sober middle classes, and very rarely, indeed,
are the police called to quell any disturbance
The place has a tranquilizing effect, and to
SEE thousands of families, parents and children
in groups, walking under the trees, lying on
the grass, Or taking In the pleasures of the
lake or booths, was rest to the wearied mind
The serpentine lake, which winds in and
out among groves and rocky shores for mile
or more, was dotted with pleasure boats; the
aged and the lazy paid dime or two for the
privilege of being rowed or carried swiftly in
the steam yacht; but the young and ardent,
especially the muscular lad with his best girl in
tow, seized the occasion to display strength
and skill with the oars For the little folks, the
greatest attraction was at the whirling swings
and imitation horses. What does possess
children of about 10 or IL years, that they
will beg to be whirled swiftly in a circle so
small, that an old fellow grows dizzy in look
ing at them; or that, for want of a swing,
they will turn round and round till they fail
to the ground with swimming of the headY
No moderate sum would tempt some of US old
fellows to do 1t, and it Is recorded that one of
the cruelest tortures of olden times consisted
in whirling the victim around till he was
senseless. Perhaps this is the juvenile sub
stitute for the intoxication older ones get
from strong liquors. At any rate the wooden
horses are always in demand, and the little
ones scream with delight as they are swept
swiftly around the circle. The little carriages
drawn by goats are not half 90 attractive,
but they are we'll patronized by more sober
class of juveniles. 1t is easy to see that the
older people are there to rest; they saunter
gently in shaded paths lie in the grass, or or
nanient the handsome benches and their most
exciting amusement iss found in carriage
ride or sail on the lake. The best hours to
visit Prospect park are from 3 p. m. till dark.
The street car lines completely encircle the
plot, and In three minutes walk from the ear
one may be In grove so prafound and Sc
cllltieti that there Is no sign OF "a great city
being within a thousand miles. Hill, grove,
lake and grassy mead have all the beauty of
nature, improved but not marr'ed by art.
Heavens blessing on the men who reser we'd
the parks of New York and Brooklyn.
j. H tBEADLE